Mailbox array

ABSTRACT

A mailbox array is shown which includes a series of interconnected mailbox elements. Each of said series comprises a set of horizontally and vertically aligned mailboxes. Each of the mailboxes has a numeric designator thereupon. The first number of the designator refers to the row of the array in which the mailbox appears, the second number refers to the series of the array and the third number refers to the column of the array. Each of the numeric designators is translucent and selectively actuatable illuminating means are disposed behind each of the designators. The illuminating means are selectively actuated by means of a trip plate within the mailbox which is movable by the impingement of mail therewithin.

United States Patent [191 Ucciardino MAILBOX ARRAY [76] Inventor: Angelo Ucciardino, 2621 Stillwell Ave., Brooklyn, NY. 11223 [22] Filed: Nov. 21, 1972 [21] Appl. No.: 308,380

[52] U.S. Cl 232/24, 232/36, 232/25, 312/2343 [51] Int. Cl 865d 91/00 [58] Field of Search 232/36, 24, 25; 312/2344, 312/2393, 234.2; 116/114, 67

[56] References Cited UNITED STATES PATENTS 753,302 3/1904 1,351,372 8/1920 1,620,474 3/1927 2,465,935 3/1949 2,480,288 8/1949 3,318,516 5/1967 Scheerer 232/36 X [111 3,819,109 1 June 25, 1974 Primary Examiner-Bobby R. Gay Assistant Examiner-Peter A. Aschenbrenner Attorney, Agent, or Firm-l. Walton Bader 5 7 ABSTRACT A mailbox array is shown which includes a series of interconnected mailbox elements. Each of said series comprises a set of horizontally and vertically aligned mailboxes. Each of the mailboxes has a numeric designator thereupon. The first number of the designator refers to the row of the array in which the mailbox appears, the second number refers to the series of the array and the third number refers to the column of the array. Each of the numeric designators is translucent and selectively actuatable illuminating means are disposed behind each of the designator-s. The illuminating means are selectively actuated by means of a trip plate within the mailbox which is movable by the impingement of mail therewithin.

1 Claim, 3 Drawing Figures MAILBOX ARRAY Mail deliveries are becoming increasingly complicated because of the large number of multiple dwellings which are presently in use. These multiple dwellings contain large numbers of apartments, sometimes as many as a thousand. The mailboxes utilized for mail delivery to these dwellings are almost impossible for a carrier to identify since the names of the occupant of the apartment are not usually systematized in any way. Furthermore, where a large number of such mailboxes are present, there generally is a substantial number of persons around the mailboxes. Therefore any tenant of the multiple dwelling would like to know, at a glance, if there is any mail within the box without physically going to the box and opening it.

l-Iere'tofore, there has been no device invented which will accomplish these purposes. The present invention, on the other hand, will.

The designation of the proper mailbox to deposit mail can be easily accomplished by the use of a numeric code which can be placed upon each of the mail boxes. If the mailboxes are arranged into a number of series with each series consisting of a plurality of individual mailboxes aligned horizontally and vertically then the numeric code on each mailbox can be easily read. The inventor has used a three digit code wherein the first digit designates the row of the array, the seconddigit designates the series of the mailboxes, and the third row designates the column of the array. The row digits increase digitally from top to bottom and the column digits increase digitally from left to right, the series digits also increase digitally in any maner desired.

The numeric designator upon each of the mailboxes is translucent with selectively actuatable illuminating means disposed behind the numeric designators. Within each mailbox is a trip plate which can be actuated by input of mail.

The occupant of each apartment in the multiple dwelling is advised to code his mail as follows. Assuming that the address of the building is 1000 Jersey Avenue the coded address would read 125 John Doe, 1000 Jersey Avenue, Anyplace USA. The carrier would immediately know that box location 125 is series 1 row 2 column 5 and would immediately be directed to the proper mailbox.

BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE INVENTION The invention may be briefly described as comprising, in combination, a plurality of series of mailbox members, each member of the series consisting of a plurality of individual mailbox members aligned horizontally and vertically with each of the individual mailbox members carrying a numeric designator thereupon. The numeric designator consists of a three digit number with the first number designating the series, the second number designating the row of the series and the third number designating the column of the series. The row digit increases digitally from top to bottom and the column digit increases digitally from left to right.

Within each individual mailbox a trip plate is provided which selectively actuates illuminating means. The numeric designators on each mailbox are translucent and the illuminating means are disposed therebehind.

DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS FIG. 1 is a front perspective view of a series of mailboxes made in accordance with this invention.

FIG. 2 is a front elevational view, on an enlarged scale, of two of the mailboxes made in accordance with this invention. For clarity of illustration the numeric designator is omitted.

FIG. 3 is a cross'sectional view of a mailbox of the array of FIG. 2 taken along lines 3-3 of FIG. 2.

DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THIS INVENTION A series of mailboxes 10 is provided. A single series 10 is shown in FIG. 1 but it must be understood that in a large multiple dwelling there could be two or more of such series. Each of series 10 of mailboxes consists of a plurality of such mailboxes 12 which are arranged in rows 13 and columns 14. Each mailbox contains a three digit numeric designator thereupon. The first digit of this designator indicates the row of the series. In this case the row designator is either 1., 2 or 3. The second digit of the numeric designator indicates the series of mailboxes. (In the form shown in the drawing this will always be 1). The third digit of the numeric designator indicates the column of the series. Inthis case the digit ranges from 1 to l to 10. The row digit of the numeric designator increases from top to bottom while the column digit of the numeric designator increases from left to right.

Each of the numbers composing the numeric designator are translucent. Behind each of these numbers is a bulb ll. Bulb 11 is disposed behind the translucent numeric designator which is designated by reference number 15 in FIG. 3. Bulb 11 is connected to socket 16 which in turn is connected to wire 17 which is connected to power source plug 18. Wire 19 is connected from power source plug 18 to microswitch 20 which in turn is connected to socket 16 by wire 21. Trip plate 22 is spring loaded and selectively contacts and trips microswitch 20.

Each of mailboxes 12 also is provided with an opening 22a for receipt of mail, a nameplate 23 and a hinged door 24. A lock 25 is also provided.

With the foregoing specific description of this invention the operation thereof can now be explained.

The proper address is provided and the mail is thus deposited in the proper box. The tenant of the box need only look at the box to determine if mail has been placed therein. If it has, then the mail will trip tn'p plate 22 and cause microswitch 20 to actuate thus placing power into bulb 11' causing it to light. Thus if the numeric designator is illuminated the tenant of the box knows immediately that mail is therein. On the other hand if the tenant of the box removes the mail then no pressure will be placedupon trip plate 22 and the microswitch will not actuate. A light spring can be placed in juxtaposition with trip plate 22 to insure that it will return to disengaged position when the pressure of the mail is removed.

The foregoing sets forth the manner in which the objects of this invention are achieved.

I claim:

1. A mailbox array comprising, in combination, a plurality of hollow mailbox members substantially rectangular in cross-section, each of said mailbox members having a substantially flat base, a pivotally movable planar member disposed above said base in spaced relationship and within said mailbox member, a microswitch spaced from said pivotally movable member, means normally biasing said planar member above said microswitch; a translucent member upon said mailbox member bearing a numeric designator, illuminating means behind said translucent member, power means adapted to actuate said illuminating means, actuation of said microswitch causing said power means to cause said illuminating means to function and to illuminate said numeric designator, said microswitch being actuated by downward pressure of said pivotally movable member which will strike said microswitch against the pressure of said biasing means when mail is placed in contact thereabove, said mailbox members being also horizontally and vertically aligned, the numeric designator of all mailboxes in the topmost horizontal row having a prefix and a suffix, the prefix of all said numeric designators being the numeral 1, the prefix of all said numeric designators of all mailboxes in each succeeding lowermost horizontal row increasing by one of each of said rows, each mailbox within each of said horizontal rows to the right of any other mailbox having a sufiix which will increase by one for each position to the right, the suffix being identical along each vertical column of mailboxes. 

1. A mailbox array comprising, in combination, a plurality of hollow mailbox members substantially rectangular in crosssection, each of said mailbox members having a substantially flat base, a pivotally movable planar member disposed above said base in spaced relationship and within said mailboX member, a microswitch spaced from said pivotally movable member, means normally biasing said planar member above said microswitch; a translucent member upon said mailbox member bearing a numeric designator, illuminating means behind said translucent member, power means adapted to actuate said illuminating means, actuation of said microswitch causing said power means to cause said illuminating means to function and to illuminate said numeric designator, said microswitch being actuated by downward pressure of said pivotally movable member which will strike said microswitch against the pressure of said biasing means when mail is placed in contact thereabove, said mailbox members being also horizontally and vertically aligned, the numeric designator of all mailboxes in the topmost horizontal row having a prefix and a suffix, the prefix of all said numeric designators being the numeral 1, the prefix of all said numeric designators of all mailboxes in each succeeding lowermost horizontal row increasing by one of each of said rows, each mailbox within each of said horizontal rows to the right of any other mailbox having a suffix which will increase by one for each position to the right, the suffix being identical along each vertical column of mailboxes. 